Garment-fastener.



G. BOUVIER.

GARMENT PASTENER. I APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 22, 1910.

7 21 Patented June 13,1911.

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by ladies when endeavoring to fasten a GRE'IA BOUVIEB, 0F TADWORTH, ENGLAND.

GARMENT-FASTENER.

To all whom "it may concern:

Be it known that I, GRETA BoUvIER, a subject of the Emperor of Germany, residing at The Firs, Tadworth, Surrey, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Garment-Fasteners, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to an improved means for fastening ladies blouses, bodiccs and like articlesfof exterior wearing apparel, and the invention has for object to overcome the difficulty usually experienced blouse, bodice or like garment without the assistance of another person.

The invention also has for object to 0bviate the necessity for the use of the multiplicity of hooks and eyes and similar fastenings which are commonly employed to secure blouses or the like and which, in consequence of their frequently inaccessible situations, are diflicult if not impossible to ma: nipulate single-handed.

Ladies blouses and bodices are very co1nmonly closed, by means of a row of fastenings, down the center of the back, and it is a matter of extreme ditficulty for the wearer to secure the entire row of'fastenings. The top and bottom fastenings and a few adjacent thereto can usually be reached comparatively easily, but the intermediate fastenings can either not be reached at all or can just be reached but insecurely fastened, with the result that they very soon work undone and present an unsightly appearance.

According to this invention a blouse, bodice or other similar exterior garment is closed down the back by means of a twopart attachment comprising a pair of suitably stiifened strips or busks capable of being removably attached to one another at top and bottom and each adapted to be secured along one of the meeting edges of the garment and to be drawn into contact with one another by means of straps attached to each of said strips or busks and fastening beneath the garment in front of the body of the wearer. The aforesaid pair of strips or busks may overlap one another and may be stiffened by means of bodice steels, whalebone or the like, and they may be provided at top and bottom wit-l1 co-acting spring clips or other suitable fastening devices. Each of said strips or busks is adapted to be stitched or otherwise suitably secured be- Specification of Letters Patent.

Anplication filed September 22, 1910.

neath one of the edges of the back of the Patented June 13, 1911.

Serial No. 583,231.

blouse or bodice, and attached to the free edge of each strip or busk are straps each of which is carried forward in opposite directions around the waist of the wearer and fastened in front by means of a buckle or otherwise suitably. Said straps may, if desired, be formed partly or wholly ofrelastic material. Said straps are attached to their respective strips or busks in such manner that the pull exerted by them when fastoned draws said strips or busks together and so closes the blouse or bodice down the back between the spring clips or other fastenings at top and bottom.

The strips or busks may be of any desired material or materials and are preferably attached to the blouse or bodice so as to be invisible when worn.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a front elevation showing the two members of the fastening device slightly separated from one another, and Fig. 2 is a rear elevation showing the device in use, the outline of a ladys bodice being indicated by dot-and-dash lines.

The attachment comprises a pair of busks or strips a, Z), of tape, braid or any other suitable material, preferably of the same color as that of the bodice or blouse or other similar exterior garment, and stiffened by means of lengths a, (Z, of'whalebone, bodice steels or like stiffening materials. Said strips a, Z), are adapted to overlap and be removably attached to one another by means of spring-clips e, f, or other suitable fastening'devices, one at top and one at bottom of the strips and each strip a, b, is adapted to be stitched or otherwise securely attached beneath one of the meeting edges of the garment. g, h, are forked straps attached to the free edge portion of each of said strips or busks a, 2), whereby said strips or busks are drawn into contact with one another when it is desired to fasten the garment, the upper limb 70, Z, of each fork being constituted preferably of elastic material and said straps g, it, being carried in opposite directions around the waist of the wearer beneath the garment and fastening in front of the body by means of a buckle m or other suitable attachment.

The upper and lower extremities of the strips or busks a, b, that is to say those portions, respectively adjacent to the collar and waist belt of the wearer are preferably not stifiened, said upper and lower extremities being stitched to the blouse or bodice, and the collar or neck band being fastened by hooks and eyes in the usual manner.

When it is desired to fasten the blouse or bodice, the garment is put on in the usual way, and the spring clip 6 is pressed home. The strap g is then passed through the fork of the strap h and the two straps g, h, are carried in opposite directions around the waist, beneath the garment, and are fastened in front by buckle m after which the springclip f is pressed home; the pull exerted upon the overlapping strips or busks a, Z), by the straps g, h, drawing said strips or busks closely together and securely closing the garment down the back. The neck is then hooked and the garment is completely fastened.

It will thus be seen that the usual multiplicity of hooks and eyes or similar fastening devices is entirely dispensed with and that a lady is enabled in consequence to fasten up a blouse or bodice, down the back, single handed and much more expeditiously and with greater facility than heretofore.

It will be manifest that although the attachment has been especially designed to overcome the present disadvantages inherent to blouses, bodices or other similar exterior garments which usually fasten down the back with a great number of separate fastening devices, it may with modifications to suit the figure of the wearer be adapted to fasten a garment down the front; the straps whereby the closure is effected in that case being fastened together at the back of the wearer.

When. the garment has become soiled or worn, the attachment may be removed therefrom and placed in a fresh garment, or if whalebone, imitation whalebone or other similar non-corrodible material is employed for stiffening purposes, the attachment need not be removed from the garment when the latter is cleaned or washed. If bodicesteels are used, these may be temporarily removed from the attachment and replaced when the garment has been cleaned or washed.

Nhat I claim is As a new article-of manufacture, a fastening device for ladies blouses, bodices and similar exterior garments, comprising a pair of structurally independent strips stiffened throughout their efficient length by whalebones or similar reinforcements and having flexible end portions and also flexible free edge portions at one side of the stiffened portions, the strips being adapted to be secured to the respective meeting edge portions of the garment by stitching which passes through the said flexible end portions and said free edge portions and the straps being arranged against the inner face of the garment, a pair of straps, each strap having a forked end which is attached to one of the 7 free edge portions, a buckle connection for joining the free ends of the straps, and upper and lower fastening clips arranged at the respective upper and lower ends of the stiffened portions of each strip, the fastening clips of one strip cooperating with the fastening clips of the other strip, and

providing for the detachable connection'of the strips to one another, the fork of one strap being passed through the fork of the other strap and the straps being passed in opposite direct-ions around the waist of the wearer and having their free ends con nected by said buckle.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of subscribing witnesses.

GRETA BOUVIER. \Vitnesses DA. ARCH, AL. CLARK, J OHN Conan Hoon.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G. 

